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October 20, 2008

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Time columnist Joe Klein, who’s been a forceful critic of the McCain campaign (and already said he’s unwilling to accept a post-election apology), has found himself without a seat on the McCain or Palin planes the past four months.

In June, Klein was kept from boarding the McCain plane over what they said had been a security issue. More recently, when trying to fly on the Palin plane last week, Klein told Politico over e-mail that the campaign's response was he “couldn’t be accommodated at this time.”

“I’ve done nine presidential campaigns and this is the first time this has ever happened to me,” Klein said. “I was even allowed—I won’t say welcomed—on the Clinton plane in the summer of 1996 after I was revealed as the author of Primary Colors.”

“I rode with McCain during the primaries, but not since I asked him—at a June press conference—whether he really believed Ahmadinejad was the ‘leader’ of Iran, since he has no control over foreign policy or the nuclear program,” Klein continued. “That was when they suddenly told me that I hadn’t called in time to get secret service clearance. (I had called more than a day in advance.)"

But he’s not the first high-profile critic to get the cold shoulder.

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that she had been “banned” by the campaign for what they told her was “the foreseeable future.” Despite Dowd being kept off the planes, The Times continues to have reporters travel with the campaign.

Similarly, other Time magazine staffers, including Washington bureau chief Jay Carney, " reporter Michael Scherer, and Mark Halperin (The Page), have not had a problem with access.

Klein noted that a couple weeks ago he told McCain adviser Nicolle Wallace about planning to get on the McCain plane again, and by his account, “she seemed to think it would be fine.” (Wallace has not yet answered a request for comment).

One thing seems clear about not getting on the Palin plane: space wasn't an issue. According to a reporter traveling with the campaign, there had been a few empty seats last week.

“My understanding is that his request came in too late,” Palin spokesperson Tracey Schmitt said.

So either Klein is consistently too late putting in requests, or the campaign just doesn't really want him aboard.

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1

You've got to be kidding. The people you listed aren't reporters, they are pundits and 100% hostile to McCain. Why would they be allowed to travel on the plane? This seems like a total non-issue. There is no entitlement to a seat.

What's stopping Klein from booking a commercial flight? What a whiner! Frankly, why should candidates even provide planes for the press, anyway? They never seem to write about anything that helps the candidate, they usually write a bunch of trivia and any tiny embarrassment to the candidate gets huge headlines. The press should make their own travel arrangements or shut up.

Carney, Scherer (esp. him) & Halperin are all tire swinging BBQ eaters. They're pretty much the only objective journalists that haven't jumped off the tire swing for McCain at this point. Thus, that's why they still get to ride with his greatness.

Bob, et al., The point of the press is to report and question what people tell them. A critical press is essential to a functioning democracy. And politicians in a democracy must encourage this scrutiny, even if it is sometime unpleasant. Often this means allowing people access who are going to question and criticise. Politicians who refuse such scrutiny, lose my vote. No McCain. And certainly, no Sarah "I don't do press conferences" Palin.

And in case it is not clear, this is about access, not about getting a free ride. My understanding is that press have to reimburse the campaign for a seat on the plane (one report says it is $2000 per day).
I think it is an indicator of the weakness of the candidate when her handlers block access to selected media.

The McCain campaign finds new ways to be inept everyday. Today, just off the top of my head...I'm sure there are more: Davis telegraphs Wright smear (dumb move in the first place, even dumber to float it first); Davis whines about Powell on Morning Joe; the campaign leaks they may be giving up on Colorado; he's got Larry King complaining he skipped his show; now more Klein complaining (all they had to do was not kick him off the tire-swing and yet they ef that up). How many stunts will they pull tomorrow? How many screw-ups?

The biggest indictment against McCain is his choice of campaign managers. Davis and Schmidt? Rove protege and lobbyist? God. McCain had the best chance to pull crossover votes. If any Republican could get elected this cycle it would have been him...but he ran a desperate, nasty campaign. Mike Murphy would have this close.

Winning campaigns want the press along (poster Charles is right, the campaign is reimbursed for travel by the news organization). That's how stories get filed and pictures published. Losing campaigns act like this.

A free and open press is vital in a democracy. McCain/Palin appear as though they would be more comfortable in Putin's Russia, the old USSR, former East Germany or Cuba. Dissent is not allowed!!! How dare you question authority! Off the plane with you!

Let's see how happy McCain will be after he loses this election and no longer has the respect or attention of the media he courted so much before! The man is a moron for listening to whom ever is strategizing for him!

I guess that the McCain campaign won't let Joe Klein ride on their planes for the same reason the Obama campaign banned The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza from The One's plane. Hey, you whiney pundits, book a seat on a commercial airline and shut up about it.

Wow, this is really a mature way to handle the press. Ban any and all scribes who are the least bit critical. No wonder why McCain is sinking fast - these people have no business being in the big leagues.

Nobody likes Klein, but to be frank, he's a good journalist. He's fair and his points are good. He wasn't a "harsh critic" of McCain - he's hostile to everybody, and he was, indeed, more hostile to Obama than to McCain until only recently. There's really no reason to not let him on their plane - suppression does not work on this guy, and politicians with a little more experience know not to **** off Klein.

Lynne at 1:25 AM wrote: "I guess that the McCain campaign won't let Joe Klein ride on their planes for the same reason the Obama campaign banned The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza from The One's plane."
Situations are not at all comparable. Klein was not allowed aboard Palin's plane even though seats were vacant.
Lizza was turned down for a flight (Obama's trip to Europe and the Middle East) where 200 journalists were competing for 40 available seats. There's no evidence that the journalists DID get on the plane were less qualified than Lizza (whose Wikipedia bio doesn't indicate any foreign-policy expertise).

Of course they'd let Michael Scherer on the plane. He saves them a seat by sitting on Rick Davis's lap during "Talking Point Story Time" and he saves them a PR flack paycheck by writing up those stories as if they were real. He's a value-added reporter, in other words.

So, you have to give "good press" like Halperin almost always does to get access? This is a page right out of Nixon's playbook. In fact, the more I see the McCain operation at work with their smear campaign, the more they remind me of the Nixon campaign or the one that Bush ran against McCain in the 2000 primary.

It is plain to see that this campaign is trying to tame people in media-it's like an exclusive night club that only lets in certain people.
But I really think it's time that the media should begin to boycott McCain's and Palin's planes. If they will not let some folks on, then everyone should protest. I guarantee that they will change their tune quickly, especially since election day will be over in a couple of weeks.
They have slammed the media for too long and I really think its time for you guys to take a stand and demand respect. McCain and Palin need you, afterall.

That's right... get those pesky reporters out of your hair. Don't tolerate opposing opinions. No questioning of the candidates positions. Clearly they only believe in free speech and a free press if/when people agree with them.
Sad and shallow.

What's next a police state?
McCain's history throughout the Campaign has been to punish anyone who speaks out against him or challanges him. Who's to say the same thing would't happen when he has control of the country as well as his wife's airplane?

Pundits??? Both Klein and Dowd are accomplished American journalists. I believe there's at least a Pulitzer in there somewhere. McCain-Palin are a joke. I just hope they don't get the chance to turn this country into the same kind of laughing-stock their own campaign has become

Repubs don't like it when one speaks the truth. They seem to expect to do their 'Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap' (AC/DC) and for there to be no blow back of any kind from any quarter.
That is what happens when one doesn't have to answer to reality for a long period of time and the MSM is totally complicit. Maybe the MSM is growing a pair. Maybe it will no longer be a total lapdog for the Bushie Repubs. Maybe truth in journalism and the Fairness Doctrine has a chance. Maybe, but probably not. That would be too much to hope for in whatever is left of our once great democracy, after the likes of the Bush family and Scalia reap their vengence.
Jouranlism is dead, long live the blogger and our Internet, that is until they take that away, as in China, as in their attack on 'Net Neutrality', as in their attack on 'every-man'.
Well, our noble experiment lasted for 230 yrs, and died because of profits and obsessive religious hypocrisy.

Apparently only the villagers are allowed on the plane now. So much for equal and fair access to McCain. It speaks volume on what type of president he would be. I think I saw this movie before it was called the bush Administration

So this is life in an McCain Administration. It sounding remarkably like a George W. Bush Adminstration. For someone who says he is not Bush II he's sure acting like him. Censorship is not American. I like McCain but this is not a good move.

Uh...may I ask what seems to be an impertinent question? Why should reporters accept free rides from candidates to their events? Seems to me that no matter how many accept the offer, it is a glaring conflict of interest. The practice of banning "uncooperative" reporters underlines the conflict.

There's a simple solution to this. Time and NY Times should pull all reporters until Klein and Dowd are allowed back on the plane. That's what the pool did when reporters weren't going to be allowed into the Palin-UN meeting. The campaign changed their tune real quick.

What's the difference at this point? McCain has a giant fork sticking out of his back and he's done. Not only does more than half the population not care what McCain has to say anymore - about anything - but it just doesn't matter. McCain has lost this election and his any respect because the things he's said throughout it have been just plain stupid. He's not intelligent enough to be President based on his campaign. So I for one don't need to hear another nasty thing he has to say.

When they tried to bar all pool reporters from Palin's New York sitdowns, CNN refused to send photographers, and the campaign backed down. The Times, the Post, Newsweek and other organizations should refuse to send reporters with McCain AT ALL. I'm pretty sure they'd cut this nonsense out.

You folks and your "why don't they get a commercial flight!" It's not about the free plane tickets. It's about getting an upclose seat with the candidate, getting to observe him or her behind the scenes, and getting an interview that 1000 other people on the ground are tring to get! Joe Klein isn't just critical of John McCain, he's critical of all politicians. If they deserve the criticism, he's there to give it to them. I think they call that in the Constitution the right to having a free press. Remember the Constitution?
And for the guy who says these people are "pundits" not reporters, well, you don't get hired at Time Magazine for being a "pundit."

My God...this is as silly as my Republican boss, who knows I'm a Democrat, not allowing me to work for him any longer. Are we still in the Parallel Universe where we are becoming all paranoid as a country? I thought we moved past that in the last 8 years.

This is so lame, it makes me laugh. I mean, if your kids act this way, you expect it and try to teach them better manners, not to be vindictive. But, there's no hope for adults who do it.
Additionally, this petty vindictiveness has been a hallmark of the McBush campaign. How many times has McBush publicly complained about Obama's refusal to do a series of "townhall" meetings ... and blamed his campaign's negative campaigning on that very item? You want to just shout, "Get over it, buddy! Move on!"
Thanks.
mp

I guess McCain's campaign staff forget the impact that a Time cover and articles have on the electorate. Based on it's own rhetoric, you would think that McCain would ban anybody from the NYt or Wash post or any number of the "biased" media. McCain reminds me of the Hollywood prima donnas who whine and complain about paparazzi, yet keeps their names on their speed dials.

I think this is clearly a violation of the First Amendment. As McCain opted for PUBLIC funding, his campaign cannot censure reporters from the plane based upon the content of their articles. The conduct is truly outrageous and should be more of a story.

Joe Klein is the living walking embodiment of the fact that contemporary American journalism has no standards. He's the guy who denied he was the author of Primary Colors for months, purposefully misleading the press and the public. If there were ethics in journalism, this guy would have been banned from the club. Instead, he occupies a high and privileged position. Tossing him off any bus is OK with me. If the "media" is supposed to truthfully bring information to the public, we ought not allow it to be run by people who self-admit to being programmatic liars.

You've got to be kidding. The people you listed aren't reporters, they are pundits and 100% hostile to McCain. Why would they be allowed to travel on the plane? This seems like a total non-issue. There is no entitlement to a seat.
Posted By: Bob Sarbane
------------->
Bob, so we should have a double standard for pundits that support McCain and not support McCain? The most important thing is this are the eyes and ears of many Americans and when available, they should be on the plane without any pre-condition. McCain's divisive nature is not only on his message but also in the way he gives access. Shame on you McCain.

You are all missing the point...
They have not been allowed in their plane because they have asked the wrong questions...
Palin/McCain Camp are only interested to be asked the questions they want the press to ask them....
God forbid they want to know what newspapers they read... that is a 'gotcha' question... therefore not worth answering it...
and if you do answer , they will run away with it...so it is better not to answer it so that they can run away with that too....
this is PALIN language at its best
does anybody speak PALIN ???

If reporters are not allowed in McSame's or Pittbull Lipstick's planes than that is an indication of what you will get if they win the White House. If they don't like you, they will not let you in. It's going to be another four years of Bush/Chenney go it alone White House. Time for a change that we believe in.
Obama/Biden 2008

There is such a negative tone in the McCain campaign. Whether it is something like this, nasty Robocalls in my state (Missouri), anti-Muslim people at McCain rallies (the man was confronted by a Muslim McCain supporter, but the campaign refused to let the Muslim who confronted the hate be interviewed on CNN). A North Carolina McCain supporter shouted "socialist" over and over to Obama. North Carolina McCain supporters rally outside early voting spots and harass the early voters. I'm tired of divisive government. If you run a divisive campaign, you will run a divisive government.

This notion that we do not speak to those who challenge our political beliefs is really anti-American, and is something practiced in the Bush era. Even Ronald Reagan worked with the old mob notion of keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer. If McCain can't stand the heat, maybe he doesn't belong in the White House. What is he going to do once he's in there? Get Rupert Murdoch to start the White House Channel and kick out the media?

If you don't think that you will be electing Bush-Cheney for a third term by electing McCain-Palin, you are kidding yourself. The way the McCain camp is treating the press is exactly the same way the Bush-Cheney White House has been treating the press. Consequently, dissent --- an important component of any functioning democracy --- is silenced, which was a contributing factor to our disastrous Iraq War.
My impression is, ABCNews's Jake Tapper was initially very critical of the Obama campaign. Still, he was allowed on board the Obama plane and I have the feeling that better access to what the campaign is about has changed him. In a democracy, you deal with dissent by engagement and persuasion, not by erecting restriction to access. The latter is more Communist China's way of doing things.

JFK - A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.
McCain's camp is so full of it sitign the media for trying to do their job. It is not giving the American people teh pros and cons of all of the candidates that makes me not vote for McCain

Sounds a lot like Dick Cheney. McCain is growing scarier by the minute. It was nice to see the old McCain at the Al Smith Dinner. I miss him, but like Dorian Gray, I am afraid he is rapidly disappearing and being overtaken by a monster within.

what's the big deal about getting a seat on these losers' plane? unless these journalists think they're entitled to a free junket! what should the journalists do is actually not board either of these planes en masse particularly considering they cannot get access to Palin anyway! and what would they say worth writing that is not a lie? aren't journalists supposed to write about the truth and facts, not fabricated lines from these two? everybody, get off these planes!!!

Joe:
There is lots of space on the Obama plane. He has a huge umbrella as compared to McCain narrow world view. That is why his campaign is going down the tubes. Such vindictiveness is foreign to American politics.

The press acts in place of me, the voter. I can't question the candidates directly so we NEED a critical and free press that will ask these bozos the tough questions.
If McCain and Palin can not handle a tough press they have no business in the White House.
(and really, when has the press been very tough on McCain? Just fill them with BBQ and they are in love.)

It's unfortunate that the US Press has so little respect for real democracy and their own role in society that they allow such censorship. If they had "cajones" and principles they would collectively boycott any campaign that attempts such crude bans.

McCain has the nerve to call Obama a Socialist when he's setting the stage to run a Dictatorship.
No different than Bush's 8 years; ostracize, preempt, redicule, diminish, cancel out, get rid of, anyone and everybody who either expresses a different view or who criticizes how things are run or what is being said.
McCain, not unlike Bush, will repel questions he doesn't want to answer - simply walk off (we've seen those tactics used by Bush during the last 8 years) and McCain will generally make himself unavailable to the general public.
Bush has set some damaging precedence on what a leader shouldn't do while in office.
No thanks to McCain - yes, thanks to Obama!

The McCain/Palin ticket does interviews with certian reporters and they don't allow the ones that ask them hard questions/objective questions in there reporter pool and they wonder why there are more negative news coverage about them from the "elite media" If they are planning to run the country the way they run there campagin by only listening or talking to people who have postive thing to say about them then i'm afraid American has four more years of Bush. Bush didn't want to hear others point of view he only wanted " yes men " and look where it got the country. Also why is McCain pulling out of all these States doesn't he want to be the president of the United States or only the pro American states

You would think that with all the bad press McCain gets normally, he'd be smart enough to realize that banning Klein would just add to the problem. It shows just one more example of his impaired judgment--Palin, of course, is the clearest example of this.

Bush & Co. is notorious for ejecting/not answering questions of critical reporters during his few and far between press "conferences." McCain is just following in his footsteps. Another way in which McCain is just like Bush. Two peas in a pod.

Wow! And the McPalin camp has the gall to infer Barack Obama is a...ahem...Socialist while at the same time they take a page from the Communist play book by banning press that disagrees! Do they realize they are running for office in the US and NOT in the (former) USSR?

Joe Klein is one of the most impressive and clear-thinking journalists I have ever read or watched. His honesty and integrity is second to no one.
During Palin's convention speech, while everyone swooned over her her stylistic, charismatic delivery, I heard derisive words directed at our free press. Another attack on intellectuals, this time from a fresh-faced right-winger. Immediately after her speech, MSNBC said that Joe Klein issued a statement to the effect that the press should not be intimidated by her remarks and should stand up for itself. Thank you Joe. We need more like you with the courage to stand up for your opinions and not knuckling under to what may be popular at the moment.
Unfortunately, other journalists were falling all over themselves with their glowing reviews of Palin's speech, despite its mean and threatening tone. Now, many of these journalists sound the way Joe did from the outset.
It is fine journalists like Joe that give me hope that we will get past this dark period of the far right's war on intellectual free thought, as represented by McCain/Palin.

The point of reporters is to...report, whether objectively, or subjectively, that is the point of freedom of the press. The neo-cons are obviously afraid of the truth, and they are willing to sacrafice the voice of opposition. Its sad that Orwellian practices are viewed as acceptable.

This sounds very much like "totalitarianism." Is that how McCain would run his government too? Only let FOX news and other pro-McCain reporters have interviews? With the way he's handled hiding Palin from the mainstream press, and kicking any dissenting reporters off his bus or plane, I can only surmise that he would run his government EXACTLY like BUSH has run his for the LAST EIGHT YEARS. And we say NO WAY, NO McCAIN/PALIN/BUSH!

This sounds very much like "totalitarianism." Is that how McCain would run his government too? Only let FOX news and other pro-McCain reporters have interviews? With the way he's handled hiding Palin from the mainstream press, and kicking any dissenting reporters off his bus or plane, I can only surmise that he would run his government EXACTLY like BUSH has run his for the LAST EIGHT YEARS. And we say NO WAY, NO McCAIN/PALIN/BUSH!

So what do you think would happen if all the other press on the plane got OFF the plane?
I guarantee it would only happen once. McCain's campaign would deflate like the balloon full of stale air that it is in a hot New York minute.
Why is the press such a gaggle of conformists and careerists? Doesn't a critical mass of them have a backbone between them that they could must up once in a while?
It's their job to cover the news, not be docile co-conspirators to a politician who wants to be president, but is really unfit.

Have you ever read Joe Klein? He's not a pundit, he's a brilliant man that just made the mistake of pointing out what a fool McCain was before it was cool to do so. He's no KOS diarist, that's for sure.

Are we surprised? That's what we should expect in a Palin-McCain Administration. Palin's reputation of cutting off opponents and personal vendetta in Alaska is legendary. In an interview, she even felt hurt that "people" were against her religion and she lashed out even though she couldn't give any proof!

In a campaign of pro McCarthyism were John McCain embraces tactics, as guilt by association in his self made environment of Pro Americanism vs Anti Americanism as articulated through his VP and surrogates, and where insinuations of "terrorist" and "socialist" referring to Senator Obama only depicts a man that will divide a country in the most despicable way. Only allowing reporters who will not offer conflicting views further adds to this philosophy, and it's not surprising. I hope Americans realize that we had 8 years of secrecy and dis ingenuousness that got us into a war and a fostered economic disaster.

As my old college roomate used to say, "Smooth move, ExLax." Has any candidate run a worse presidential campaign than this guy? Forget Davis and Schmidt. This is McCain's campaign and he's run it like a wuss from day one! The guy's got no cajones anymore ... none. He's just got NO game.

I think the press should stick together. If some are not allowed on the plane, they should all stay home. I wonder how happy the McCain campaign would be if nobody showed up to cover the senator and the gov.

The complete McCain campaign has become a nonsensical exercise in futility. The Republican/Roveian ruse has come home to roost. If anyone needs more insight into John McCain's extent of poor judgment and unfitness to lead the nation, they need to look no further than how he has mismanaged his campaign.

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot and alienating just about everyone. Part of the problem with Bush was the secrecy. Echoes heard here can only hurt McCain. His handlers are not thinking clearly. This is a self-inflicted wound, in a series of such wounds, that combined may ultimately prove mortal. Foolish and unprofessional.

i'm surprised Klein hasn't claimed that his exclusion from the plane was yet another act of racism! maybe there isn't an over-arching conspiracy against Klein, or Obama, or even Hilary Clinton. instead, maybe people just don't like them because they are all lying, coniving miscreant scumbags-nothing racist about that.

This just shows you the kind of presidency we would have from McCain and Palin! One of exclusion, of discrimination and of anger. People would not be able to disagree or criticize them even in a healthy way.
This is the last thing we need and why they don't see they are making one enemy after another is beyond me. Even the way they handle their campaign comes across as whiny,annoyed,grumpy and angry. Thanks, but no thanks!

Obviously Republicans, even those that claim to be a "Maverick", have no respect for our Constitution.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

These little tributes to Joe Klein scattered in the comment section are laughable. Please take the time to read his posts in Time's Swampland blog. They are nothing but a regurgitation of Obama/DNC talking points. In fact, strangely, they always seem to echo the Democrats' theme of the day. If Klein rides the McCain plane, so should the Obama media spokespeople. There's no discernible difference.

Journalists should be allowed on the campaign planes, even commentators...just not NOVELISTS. Joe Klein has proved himself an able novelist with a vivid imagination.
Halli Casser-Jayne
http://www.thecjpoliticalreport.com

I can understand a candidate not wanting a particular member of the press aboard their plane, especially if that person has been critical. All news organizations should then make every effort to provide a list of press members banned from the discriminatory campaigns. Transparency is key. Make the public aware of who invokes what when it comes to the press. Having said that, I wonder how many Fox members fly with the Obama campaign (which I support)...

The obvious answer to those journalists who get snubbed by McCain's campaign is to deny them column inches. If Mccain does not want to give access, they should not expect to get any. A nice solid news blackout of their campaign would cook their goose right handily.

McCain is a grumpy old man. The GOP wants to suppress the vote and they don't want critical reporters flying on their plane. BTW Absurdistan, reporters PAY for their seat. It ain't free. The 4th estate helps with campaign costs...

who would want to ride on that death ship anyway? dear lord, it's not as if you're going to learn anything about foreign policy or the economy or anything that matters to americans. just turn on steve doocy and his merry band of clowns on 'fox and friends' and you have the mccain/palin script right there. and you can stay in your pajamas. and you don't have to look at old man mcsame limp-lurching from one lie to the next.

McCain is following the Bush/Rove/Cheney ways. When it doesn't work he sends out Sarah"I can see Alaska" Palin out to stir up the hatred in their base. I saw videos of stops in Pensacola and Ohio and it was sickening the hatred that is condoned by McCain/Palin.

Why would you want to fly on the planes of the losers anyway? Klein and other pundits on both sides can just watch youtube for the next foot in the mouth comments from the republicans, I
m just waiting for one of them to slip and use the N word. Oh by the way I voted today in Fort Lauderdale and there was no problem at my early voting spot which had over 1,000 people yesterday and already had 300 before I got there at 11:00am today I was number 301, and let me tell you they aint in line for McSame and that racist Palin. OBAMA GOING KICK YOU IN (THE YOU KNOW WHAT) on election day grampy.

Hey, if McCain and Palin want to be selective about who they have on board regarding the press...perhaps the press should be selective about who they cover. If Time stopped covering Palin and McCain...both would be back at their door knocking for coverage.

So freedom of speech really isn't so free under McCain/Palin? Or is it only free if you happen to agree with them?
So much for respecting the rights of others to disagree...one more lost freedom under McCain.

So Goldfarb won't let "Daily Kos Diarists on board either."
Then I refuse to criticize McCain any more and his visage will simply disappear into the ethos without my constant merciless haranguing.
Two can play the same game.
Nah Nah Nah

Obama is a socialist. Why are his supporters so ashamed of that word. Governemnt control of EVERY aspect of our lives. You fear BIG oil, Big pharms, Big corps BUT you do not fear BIG GOVERMENT. Will someone tell me why that is?

(I'm an Obama supporter & contributor.) I note that the Obama campaign wouldn't board Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker after the issue with the infamous cartoon cover and inside a long profile of Obama's rise in Chicago politics by Lizza, who is described as the New Yorker's lead political correspondent (or somesuch).

So, Joe the Plumber and Joe Sixpack are okay, but not Joe, one of the most respected political writers of our time? This is how McCain/Palin deal with tough questions? Very disappointing from someone I once considered a genuinely straight talker. History has shown that politicians can run, but they can't hide, and should not get into a fight with those who buy ink by the barrel. Really disappointing. (And you can't follow a plane by flying commercial because you would never get to the events in time.)

I really don't think John McCain is aware of most of what his handlers do, including banning the media from riding on his plane.
McCain's handlers are immature, spiteful, and drunk with power, which they wield in the most unsavory fashion. They even kept one of McCain's own supporters, who happened to be Muslim, from talking with CNN.
That would have been a perfect opportunity to score points with Independents and undecideds.
McCain's choice of a campaign staff, manned mostly by Bushies and lobbyists, only reflects on his poor judgment, as does his choice of Sarah Palin. He could have done much better.

Just like I've been banned/censored at the Houston Chronicle and Huffington Post.It's somewhat satisfying to learn that my criticism is deemed as great a threat to the established ninnys as that from folks like Klein and Dowd.

Perhaps if McCain and his entourage were able to listen to criticism and not block out reality from their fantasy world, he would be doing better, but thank goodness, it's too late for him. They can do what the hay they want - all the way to the concession speech.

Typical of the GOP's behavior this past 8 years. Another play out of the Bush Playbook: exclude those you disagree with. It's time Americans got past this immature behavior and voted these babies out. We have too many problems for this nonsense.
IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, McCAIN, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN.

I hope it will not be long before she goes back to Alaska in that plane for the last time.
A non serious fake along with her tired jokester of a prez candidate. If we want comedy, we will call up Chris Rock, or someone. We want a serious president that knows that this is not a time for dull jokes during the worst times in our lives.

Is anyone surprised at these tactics. The McCain/Palin handlers have been avoiding answering real questions the entire campaign opting instead for stupid slogans designed to rev up the drooling drones who think Obama is the anti Christ. I hope they're happy since their childish name calling as a replacement for intelligent ideas has driven away independents by the millions.

If John McCain doesn't have the backbone to take on Joe Klein or Maureen Dowd, how can anyone reasonably expect him to have the testicular fortitude to take on Ahmadinejad or Bin Laden?
This really just makes McCain look like an even bigger sissy than Bush painted him to be in 2000.

Klein is not entitled to a seat on the plane. he has been openly hostile to the McCain Campaign and openly cheerleading for Obama.
He is not an objective journalist and the campaign is right to deny him access.

Pulitzer Prize winner Maureen Dowd was also banned from the White House press room, being told that her press pass was repeatedly delayed. This was during the time that male prostitute Jeff Gannon/Guckert was issued a press pass every day. Everyone knew when he entered the White House, but lots of days he didn't sign out. Hmmmm!

Apparently McCain cannot take any disagreement - although, the more that we learn of his personality, the less of a surprise this is. I am positive that Obama will win, but nevertheless I am somewhat shaky at how close we came to having McCain in a position where he could start WW111. I don't think that he is well.

I am not sure why he feels that he is entitled to a seat. Although I do agree with his general criticisms of McCain, I don't believe that the McCain campaign has an obligation to accommodate him. Speaking the truth always comes with a price. inthematrix.wordpress.com

forget riding on the plane, you have to print positive press just to get face time with the candidate once you are on the plane. Now they know how Nader feels as he has been blacklisted by most every liberal media outlet.

He should consider himself blessed, unless he was working on a film Travels with McCain / Palin.
If you have seen Alexandra Pelosi's Journeys with George, you would NEVER want to go on such a nightmare. With any politician. Ever.

McCain/Palin campaign only allow press on board who agree with them. Anyone that disagrees gets thrown under the bus or kicked off the plane like conservative columnist Christopher Buckley, Joe Klien, Peggy Noonan, Kathleen Parker and a 4 star general , Colin Powell, or a Wasilla Librarian for speaking their minds. This is just the beginning McCain/Palin campaign only allows press or surrogates on board who agree with them. Anyone that disagrees gets thrown under the bus or kicked off the plane like conservative columnists Christopher Buckley, Joe Klien, Peggy Noonan, Kathleen Parker; and a 4 -star general Republican leader, Colin Powell, or a Wasilla Librarian for speaking their minds. This is just the beginning of the McCain/Palin censorship if they were to become elected to the highest of office. I don't know about you, but I want to keep our first amendment, freedom of speech.

Joe Klein crossed the line with this "apology not accepted" article. It is not his job to accept or not accept apologies from candidates nor his job to evaluate his opinion of their campaign.
If he wants to cross the line from reporter to hostile political analyst than he doesn't get the perks of being a reporter.

Mr. Klein, you are not missing a thing. Governor Sarah Failin Palin is showing all her true colors (stupidities)all by herself. Not too long ago...she reveals again that she doesn't even know "what the vp does? Pity.

The fact that the McCain campaign only allows 'friendlies' on the plane is not news, and I have no problem with that.
I just wish they published a daily list of those journalists allowed on the campaign plane, so we would know who has been co-opted to write puff pieces.

Lynne-
You wrote: " guess that the McCain campaign won't let Joe Klein ride on their planes for the same reason the Obama campaign banned The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza from The One's plane. Hey, you whiney pundits, book a seat on a commercial airline and shut up about it."
Your assertion is questionable, if not outright false. There were 200 requests for the 40 seats on his plane for the European trip, and Ryan was left out, not "banned". You can read the author's retraction here:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/obamas-revenge-emnew-york_n_113969.html
Nice try at a smear, Palin.

This tells you the kind of Presidency McCain would have. He wouldn't have anyone in the White House press room that would ask tough or embarrassing questions. Without journalists asking the tough questions, there would be no accountability.

absurdistan asks why Klein doesn't fly commercial..the McCain/Palin campaign travels to more rural communities and smaller cities that have recently lost commercial air service. Also the candidates often hit two or three places a day and given it takes about two hours to get in and out of any airport these days it would be impossible for one reporter to keep up with a candidate by flying commercial. Also candidates on the plane are included in the motorcade and have reserved spots at campaign events...riding the press plane has its privileges; granted the press pays dearly for that privilege...the cost for a reporter to fly on a candidate's plane or Air Force One is equal to a first class plane ticket

Editors want stories. Reporters want to keep their cushy jobs. If they're off the plane, there's lesser chance of getting a story to please the editor, and the reporter may lose the gig. So if any criticism of the candidate means you're off the plane, then better not write anything critical of the candidate. Simple self preservation. Just in case you were wondering why the press seems to fawn over McCain in the sickening way they do....

Editors want stories. Reporters want to keep their cushy jobs. If they're off the plane, there's lesser chance of getting a story to please the editor, and the reporter may lose the gig. So if any criticism of the candidate means you're off the plane, then better not write anything critical of the candidate. Simple self preservation. Just in case you were wondering why the press seems to fawn over McCain in the sickening way they do....

Editors want stories. Reporters want to keep their cushy jobs. If they're off the plane, there's lesser chance of getting a story to please the editor, and the reporter may lose the gig. So if any criticism of the candidate means you're off the plane, then better not write anything critical of the candidate. Simple self preservation. Just in case you were wondering why the press seems to fawn over McCain in the sickening way they do....

absurdist writes: "Frankly, why should candidates even provide planes for the press, anyway? They never seem to write about anything that helps the candidate"
OMG, do you understand ANYTHING about the role of the FREE press in a democracy?
Come to tink of it, do you even understand the concept of DEMOCRACY?